Water Aerobic Cover for the Hair

ABSTRACT

An expandable waterproof hair cover or water aerobic cover, to be worn by a person engaging in water aerobics or other aquatic activities is described. The cover is designed to expand around the wearer&#39;s hair without compressing the hair or crushing the wearer&#39;s coiffure. It further allows for entry of dry air under the cover and permits water vapor from perspiration to exit through its breathable fabric. The cover further forms a watertight seal to keep water out even when the wearer&#39;s head is transiently immersed in water.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-In-Part claiming priority benefit of U.S. Nonprovisional application Ser. No. 13/927,515 filed Jun. 26, 2013. The contents of U.S. Ser. No. 13/927,515 are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The subject matter of the invention concerns coiffure preserving headgear worn by participants in water aerobic and similar aquatic activities.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

Headgear worn for activities in aquatic environments are diverse and numerous. Most of the known art is concerned with swimming, bathing, or shower caps, diving headgear, and items used for beach sports. U.S. Pat. No. 6,560,784 to Hill discloses a strip of material arranged in a protective hair wrap. The hair wrap compresses hair to the scalp effectively destroying high-volume or bouffant type coiffures. U.S. Pat. No. 3,009,159 to Emmet discloses a non-compressive loose-fitting waterproof head covering with elastic edge for use in the shower. The fabric is not breathable and its wraparound skirt design would most likely fail to keep water from the wearer's hair during vigorous aerobic activities. Lack of breathability would cause accumulation of perspiration and moisture on the wearer's hair, effectively ruining high-volume or bouffant hair styles. U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,606 to Snowden discloses a rain hat which does not compress the wearer's hair style but uses a water resistant fabric rather than a waterproof fabric and does not have a stretchable band and thus would not sufficiently exclude water from its interior in the event of transient immersion such as can occur during aquatic exercise and sports. U.S. Pat. No. 3,206,761 to Melnikoff discloses a bathing cap with integral headband and gathering means which would not compress the wearer's hairstyle. However, it is constructed from non-breathable fabric and therefore has some of the same disadvantages as Emmet. DE 8000087 to Kreckl describes a swim cap with waterproof and breathable fabric. The fabric is also elastically flexible with an inner cap that is stretched over the hair situated on the crown of the head and an outer cap to accommodate long hair which is snugly fastened. This design would also be unsuitable for preserving high-volume or bouffant hairstyles because it would compress the hair to the scalp.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present inventive subject matter describes an expandable water aerobic head or hair cover fabricated with a breathable waterproof fabric and a reinforced stretchable band or seal at the edge of the head cover, extending around the circumference of the head, to prevent entry of water to the interior of the head cover. It also includes an expandable crown portion to accommodate hair extending in vertical and radial directions and a rear portion to accommodate long hair extending behind the head. The unique combination of a circumferential stretchable band and breathable waterproof fabric arranged to accommodate high-volume or bouffant hairstyles allows for water aerobic and vigorous aquatic sports activities while preserving the wearer's hairstyle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 Side view of water aerobic cover on wearer's head

FIG. 2 Perspective view of water aerobic cover showing front, side, band, and band reinforcement

FIG. 3 Inverted perspective view showing stretchable band and band reinforcement

FIG. 4 Bottom view from rear of water aerobic cover

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a head cover for water aerobics and other aquatic activities and sports which can be worn by a person or wearer. The water aerobic cover is fabricated from waterproof breathable fabrics that are flexible and waterproof. The fabric of the main body of the cover may be woven or nonwoven. This fabric may also expand elastically but preferably with high elasticity and very low Young's modulus to avoid compression of the hair. A single layer uncoated sheer waterproof breathable fabric may be used in order to most effectively dissipate heat and moisture generated during exercise. Alternatively a stretchable polyester-nylon fabric with polyurethane lamination, or other suitable fabrics may be used. The water aerobic cover additionally is expandable to accommodate high-volume or bouffant hairstyles and allowing for dispersal of perspiration or moisture through the breathable fabric and entry of dry air into the interior of the cover while being worn. By excluding entry of water or moisture into the interior of the cover and allowing escape of water vapor while accommodating the volume of the wearer's coiffure, the wearer's hairstyle is preserved and does not require extensive maintenance following use. Terms recited in this disclosure such as coiffure, bouffant, and high-volume hairstyle are used according to their plain meaning as would be understood by any person of ordinary skill in the art. Coiffure is defined by Merriam-Webster.com as “a style or manner of arranging hair.” Bouffant is defined according to dictionary.reference.com “a woman's hair style in which the hair is teased to give an overall puffed-out appearance and often combed to frame the face. High-volume hairstyles include all hair styles in which occupies space around the head such that it is not compressed or lying flat. In other words, styles that are “puffed-out” or in which longer lengths of many hair strand are arranged to extend approximately perpendicularly from the scalp than occur in flat hair styles. This would include bouffant and Afro hairstyles and other styles that would be understood according to common sense meaning to include styles which occupy greater volume than hairstyles in which the hair lies flat on the scalp.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment the water aerobic cover (10) from the left side. The main body of the cover has a front portion (18), a back portion (22), a top or crown portion (28), a left side portion (20) and an overhanging portion (16) which extends from the back portion. A right side portion (20) is shown in FIG. 2. The waterproof fabric has sufficient area in the front portion (18) and side portions (20) to allow for tall, bouffant, and other high-volume hairstyles. Folds (12) or pleats or gathers allow for expansion while applying minimal compressive force to the hair and scalp. A peripheral band or strip (14A) is positioned at the opening or aperture (26) of the water aerobic cover near or at the bottom of the article. This strip is preferably comprised of a breathable waterproof fabric which may be stretchable. An elastic or stretchable reinforcement material which may be in the form of a strip or strips (14B) may be positioned along strip (14A) to ensure a water-tight seal around the circumference of the skull of the wearer. The reinforcement may be comprised of a silicone elastomer or other suitable highly stretchable material. An overhang portion (16) is positioned to hold long hanging hair.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view from an angle showing the front portion (18) and side portion (20) from the right side of the water aerobic cover. These portions are arranged for ample height to accommodate high-volume hairstyles.

FIG. 3 shows an inverted perspective view showing the bottom portion (30) and a portion of an interior cavity (24) of an embodiment of the water aerobic cover with inset showing reinforcement (14B).

FIG. 4 shows a bottom view with interior cavity (24) and peripherally located strips (14A) and (14B).

The wearer can simply place the aerobic cover on her head, expanding the volume within the cover as needed and positioning the band so that a watertight seal is achieved.

Embodiments may employ folds, gathers, or pleats to facilitate expansion of the water aerobic cover thereby subjecting the wearer's coiffure to minimal compressive force. The main body of the water aerobic cover, i.e., the front, side, back and overhang portions may be comprised of a flexible non-elastic material. Embodiments using nonstretchable fabrics would require folds, pleats, or gathers to facilitate expansion of the cover. Alternatively a highly elastic material with low modulus of elasticity could be used without the need for folds, pleats or similar structures. The band 14A as well as 14B could be fashioned to be adjustable using a slider or other suitable means. 

I claim:
 1. An aerobic cover for a wearer's hair which prevents the wearer from loss of coiffure or compression of hairstyles during water aerobics or aquatic sports comprising, a front portion (18), left and right side portions (20), a back portion (22), top or crown portion (28), a bottom portion (30), an aperture (26), an interior cavity (24) and an optional overhanging portion (30), an elastic or stretchable strip (14A) located at and lining the periphery of the bottom portion (30) at the boundary of the aperture (26), the strip (14A) with or without an optional elastic reinforcement (14B) capable of forming a watertight seal around the circumference of the wearer's skull, the aerobic cover having said front portion (18), said left and right side portions (20), said top portion (28) and said back portion (22) further comprising a waterproof, breathable fabric, said fabric arranged in a manner which allows for expansion of the interior cavity (24) without compressing high volume coiffures or hairstyles of the wearer and which further allows escape of water vapor or moisture from the interior cavity and entry of external dry air into the interior cavity while worn thereby preserving the wearer's hairstyle or coiffure.
 2. The aerobic cover of claim 1 further comprising, said front portion (18), said left and right side portions (20), said top portion (28) and said back portion (22) are comprised of a single-layer waterproof, breathable substantially inelastic material, and further comprising said front portion (18), said left and right side portions (20) having pleats, folds, or gathers thereby allowing expansion of interior cavity (24) without compressing high-volume or bouffant hairstyles.
 3. The aerobic cover of claim 1 further comprising, said front portion (18), said left and right side portions (20), said top portion (28) and said back portion (22) are comprised of a waterproof, breathable and stretchable material, said waterproof, breathable, and stretchable material further capable of expanding while exerting minimal compressive force on the wearer's hair such that the wearer's coiffure or hairstyle is not substantially compressed by contractive force when the material is stretched to an expanded state sufficient to cover the wearer's hair.
 4. The aerobic cover of claim 3 further comprising, strip (14A) is reinforced with an elastic reinforcement strip (14B) which facilitates formation of said watertight seal.
 5. The aerobic cover of claim 3 further comprising, said front portion (18), said left and right side portions (20), said top portion (28) and said back portion (22) are comprised of a waterproof, breathable and stretchable material, said stretchable material further comprising a polyester nylon-material with polyurethane lamination.
 6. The aerobic cover of claim 2 further comprising, strip (14A) is reinforced with an elastic reinforcement strip (14B) which facilitates formation of said watertight seal.
 7. The aerobic cover of claim 4 further comprising, said front portion (18) and said left and right side portions (20) having pleats, folds, or gathers thereby allowing expansion of interior cavity (24) without compressing high-volume or bouffant hairstyles thereby allowing the wearer to retain her hairstyle during water aerobic exercise or other aquatic sports activity.
 8. The aerobic cover of claim 5 further comprising, said front portion (18) and said left and right side portions (20) having pleats, folds, or gathers thereby allowing expansion of interior cavity (24) without compressing high-volume or bouffant hairstyles thereby allowing the wearer to retain her hairstyle during water aerobic exercise or other aquatic sports activity.
 9. The aerobic cover of claim 6 further comprising, a slider positioned for tension adjustment of strips 14A and 14B.
 10. The aerobic cover of claim 7 further comprising, a slider positioned for tension adjustment of strips 14A and 14B.
 11. The aerobic cover of claim 8 further comprising, a slider positioned for tension adjustment of strips 14A and 14B. 